Radar Waves: ‘Dirt’ Album Review

It was 4:31 AM EST on Tuesday when I opened up the Monster Riff editorial calendar and realized I didn’t have any article ideas or album reviews lined up for this week. 

So, I opened Spotify, turned on one of my favorite records as of late, and pulled up my email to see what I’ve missed. 

I was about to see what’s hot on the Doom Charts when I thought: Hey, wait a minute. Monster Riff is my blog. I can do whatever I want… Why not just review this juicy, fuzzy record I’ve been listening to on repeat?

So, that’s what we’re doing today. 

Ladies and gents, I now present Radar Waves’ Dirt, a catchy 2017 example of “Trash Rock”—melody-infused Alt Rock with Stoner Rock guitar tones and plenty to love. 

About Radar Waves

Radar Waves is a rockin’ Chicago trio that started in 2011 with founder Charlie Thornton. Today, the Radar Waves lineup is:

• Charlie Thornton – Guitar and Vocals
• Rob Wash – Bass and Vocals
• Mikey Cervenka – Drums

On the Radar Waves website, the band mentions Rock ‘n’ Roll heroes like The Beatles, Foo Fighters, and Motörhead—as well as bands like Local H, Alkaline Trio, and Limp Bizkit. 

Radar Waves’ Dirt Album Review

Tracks: 10
Length: 32:51
Release Date: September 29, 2017

​Track 1: Dirt

With its relentless onslaught of fuzz, the intro of “Dirt” sounds like something Rickie Billie’s Burger Patrol might have cooked up. But by the time the song gets moving, it takes most of its cues from the high-energy Garage Rock that was so popular 10 or 20 years ago. Be sure to stick around for the heavy bridge—one of the most relentless portions of the album. 

​Track 2: Throat

A simple song running barely over a minute, “Throat” is as much Presidents of the United States or Primus as it is Radar Waves’ unique brand of “Trash Rock.”

​Track 3: Beg, Borrow and Steal

I’ll be honest: I love singing along to “Beg, Borrow and Steal” in the car, especially the line “I’ve got no pot to piss in / Fucking up is the family tradition.”

The vocals here are powerful, layered, and catchy, and “Beg, Borrow and Steal” could have been a powerful single ahead of the album’s release.

​Track 4: The Crick

“The Crick” opens with an unsettling voiceover that sounds like an old, found recording (and Emo fans might think of the opening to Brand New’s Science Fiction, which came out a month before Dirt). 

Eventually, the band breaks into a raucous Punk Rock song that sounds like Bleach-era Nirvana and lasts less than two minutes. 

​Track 5: Prelude

“Prelude” is, as you might expect, an interlude track that leads us perfectly into “Tombstone Piledriver.”

Track 6: Tombstone Piledriver

Like “Beg, Borrow and Steal,” “Tombstone Piledriver” is one of the catchiest songs on Dirt, and don’t be surprised if it has you punching the roof of your car as you sing along. 

“Tombstone Piledriver” offers so much of what Radar Waves does so well: relentless bass lines, fuzz-drenched riffs, layered vocals, and earworm melodies. 

Track 7: Janine, Look at the Sky!

The softest song on the record up to this point, “Janine, Look at the Sky” trades in the band’s characteristic bite for something a little more radio-friendly—think early Foo Fighters.

Track 8: Loud and Angry

Another heavy, fuzzy rocker. The energy of “Loud and Angry” matches the name!

Track 9: This Is Art

Dark and moody, “This Is Art” is another depressive track that moves quickly; it seems to end before you even realize it.

Track 10: Anxiety

With a total length of more than five minutes, “Anxiety” is the longest song on the album. Instead of leveraging that spirited Punk-infused energy to get its point across, “Anxiety” is driven forward by an acoustic guitar that’s gradually joined by the rest of the band—and another round of depressive lyrics that are barked like a Rise Against song: “I’m not alright / For the one-hundredth time / And you know / I can’t be alone.”

“Anxiety” is a powerful, emotional conclusion to an overall strong record. 

Final Thoughts On Dirt

Final Score: 8.5/10

Standout Tracks: “Beg, Borrow and Steal,” “Tombstone Piledriver,” and “Anxiety”

Pros: Radar Waves does so much well: They’ve dialed in a delicious guitar tone, their vocals are layered and catchy, and the percussion is relentless.

More importantly, though, this is a band that understands how to write a great hook. Dirt is littered with earworm moments that you’ll have trouble getting out of your head.

Cons: If there’s anything to complain about in Dirt, it may be the lyrics. Landing somewhere between brilliant and sophomoric, Dirt simultaneously channels clever originality with the over-the-top dramatics of a 2000s Emo band. 

Fortunately, the band balances their lyrics with tasty vocal effects that add to the overall experience, so the lines that flop (and there aren’t many of them) don’t become a distraction.

Learn More About Radar Waves

To learn more about the band, visit the Radar Waves website, follow them on Bandcamp, or connect with them on social media (Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube).